Shock absorber



Jan. 31, 1939.

E. F. ROSSMAN sn oc'x ABSORBER Fil ed July 30, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pxitent6d Jan. 31, 1939 2445,736 1 ;snocx ABSORBER Edwixi F.]Rossman Dayton, Ohio, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to General Motors Gomoratiau, Detroit, Miqh. a, corporation o! Delaware (Application July 30, 1932, Serial N0. 626,802

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvemencs in shock absotber-s adapted =to cntro1 excessive v m0vementsof vehicle-springsdue 120 unevenness izf1f therdtlbedover which t;he v9hicle is being opela" ted.

I is amorig the objects-of the present invem tio'ntio'provide a hydraulic shock absorber ca- 4 pia.ble of automatidlly adjusting "itself proportionate1y to accelerative m0vements0f the ve- I.iicle body. Y Andther objectof ;me present invention is to p th;

3 -A' further -0bject of thep'resent; irivention is m proYide ei.nhydraulic shock -abs'orber capable of beir'1'g automatically adjus'ted toincrease its non- .t rol 015 th vehicle Spririgs in rsponse to acce1erativeVertical movements' of the vehicle body and Whi l' the vehicle is being ope1ated -through a cutVedp'ath substan-tiatlly ina, horizontal plane.

' These objects are attained by providing the fing dra'wings wherein ap1eferred embodim'ent cf lish'ed; thereby.

jsh00k absorber with a fluidpressure releasevalve,

gdveined' by an inertia'wei'ght=member which is 1pivotally silpported by -the shock absorber and which in 'r'sponse 150 either accelrative move n'1entsof the shock=absorber in a ve'rtical direction or centrifugal forbe 'resulting from the move- .me nt o'ffithe 'shock absorber througha curved Dathin ahbriz ontal plane andwill actuatg -said valveimire&singlyt r'estrict the fiuid flow estab- Further'objects and advantags of the present ihvention will be apparen t from the following desc1ibtion;referencebeing hat]. to the accompany- In the drawings j fh icle chassis with wheels removed, shoWing a. shCk='-absofbeirequippedwith the present invention atttached to theirameof the vehicle;

Figu're2 is -a*longitudinal sectional view taken 1 thr011gh the shok "abS0r-ber; Fi'gure 3 is.a fragmentary sectional view of one fiul'd flow control =deVic Of the shot:k absorber;

. :"Figure.4 is 'a plan view 'ofavehic1e chassis .equippedwitha. c'emplete set'of four' shock absorber;

Jigure 5 isv a..planvieW of the shockabsofber at ;=reduced zscale, Italien .subStantially a1o'ng the :150f Fgure12the..inertia weight, howevehxbeihghown:piv0t8llyrsupported at 2a meint substantially 180 from that shown in ehe Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a view simi1ar to Figi1re 5, showing the shock absorber inertia weight of the shock absorber pivoted at a. point 90 from that shown 5 in the Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken substantially.along the line 'l--"l of Figure 2;

.Figure -8 is afragmentary view showing the inertia weight governed fluid'flow controldevice. 10

Referring-to thedrawings, the numeral 211 designatesthe frame of the vehicle which is supported upon the.axle.of the=vehicle by springs22, the ends .of which are hingedly securedto the frame as at2r3and 24.

'Ihe shock absorber .comprisesa:.casing 25 providing ;a fluid :reservoir 126 and a cy1indar ;21 an opem'ng "28 in the fiuid ;reservoir.being covered by a plate.29 secured to the casing .251by screws 30.

Within the cyllnder12'l there is provideda rec iprocative pistorl 131 havinga wear-piece 32.in its head portionwhich is engaged by the free end 33 of a rocker lever.34. This rocker lever 34 is anchored toa rocker shaft; 35 journaledtransversely inxthe casing, one end ofshaft 35 extend ingoutside! the casing andhaving the shock absorber.operating arm36 attached thereto. The freeend of arm36 is swivelly securedto one end of alink:31theoppositeend of said link being swivel1y connected witha member 38 secured to the axle 2 I. From this it maybeseen that movement of the axle 2I toward and away from the frame 20 will 'oscillate 'the arm 36 so "that the rocker shaft am]. its attached arm 34 will be 35 moved clockwise anti counterclockwise respective1y whereby the piston"3l 'is actuated. The arm3'4 moving counterclockwise Will urge the piston 3I into the cylinderagainst the efiect of spring 39, which is interposedbetween the piston 40 a.nd the bottom of the cylinder 21. However, When the arm '3ligrotated c1o0kwise, due to the approaching movements of the axle 2I toward ehe frame"20 then the pistonl3l is moved out of the cylirider 21 tofo1lowthe path of movement of the armportion33by the spring 39.

The piston forma a compression chamber 21a in the cylinderrand hasas=mayibe seen in Figures 2 and 3,- a passagel5'throughits head portion-providing for=the transfer 0f 'fluid'between the reservoir and the said chamber. A fiuid flow contro1 mechanism iscprovided in thepiston for controllingerregulating the fiuid fiow through this passage 45. AS Will be seen in the'Figures"2 and 3,;an 2 inwazdly extending annular ridge 46 provides a valve-seat aboutthe passage which is engaged by mhe intake valve 41 under th influence of spring 68 which is seated within the valve-cage 09. Valve-cage 46 is mainfained against the inner surface of the piston head by spring 69. A central opening 56 is providecl in the intake valve 91 for receiving a portion 0f the valve-stem 5l. This valvestem has a head 52 at its one end, while the opposite end, which extends through and beyond the intake valve il1, has a button-valve attached. thereto, said lautton-valve being concave, the peripheral eclge of Which rests upon the outer surface of the intake valve 41. A spring 56, surrounding the stem 5! and interposecl between the intake valve 11 and the head 52 of the stem, urgs the stem so tha its button-valve 53 is maintained upon the intake valve as mentioned. 'Ihe opening 56 in the in take valve is of a difierent shape than 'che portion of 'ishe stem 61 extending.therethrough so that there is provicled a passagebetween the wall of the stem 5i and the Wall of the opening 56 provicling com'munication between he compression chamber formed between the piston 'and the end Wall o1" piston 21 and the ohamber 55 forined becween the intake valve 61 and the 'concarsbutton va1ve 53.

An interiorly threaoled port 66 is provided in the Wall of the cylinder adjacent the closed end of said cylinder, this port providing communication between the compression chamber 21a in cylinder 21 and the reservoir 26. In this port there is threaded one end of a tubularvalve 6I, the tubu- 'lar valve having a central passage 62 closed ab the outer end. Side openings 63 are provided in the wall of the valve adjacent the closed end of the central passage 62 therein, these side openings terminating in an annular groove 65 in the outer suriaceof valvefi6l, said annular groove having its lower edge sloping as at 66. Slidably fitting over valve 61 is the member 61 0f the valve, the upper end 01 which is closed and is provided with a hump 66. The space between the closed end of valve 6i and the closecl end of the valve portioh 61 is vented by an ope ning 69.. Side openings 16 in the member 61 are normally in comnrlunication With the lower end of the annular groove as shown in Figure 2. Valve member 61 is held in normal position by a spring 11 interposed between a flange 011 the valve member 6I and a fiange on the valve member61, this spring 11 urging the valve into engagement with the weight member 86.

The weight member 86 ispivotally supported upon a pin 8l at a point above the horizontal center of the mass of the weighi; 68, this pin 8l being in turn supported by two oppositely disposed adjacent ears 82 depending from the cover plate 29. These ears 62 are so posi-tioned that in whatever position cover plate- 29 is attached to the casing 25, the center of Weight 86 will be substantially in coaxial alignment With the center cf the valve member 61.

As shown in Figures 2, '7 and 8. the weight member 86 has a groove 69 provided. therein forming a receptacle for the spring 83, one end 0f Which is anchored to a plate 84 attached to one side of 1:he weight member 86 by screw 65, the opposite end of said spring 63 being anchored to a depending ear 86 formed on a ring-plate 81 which is mounted on the casing 25 betweenthe platze 29 and said. casing. Normally spring 83 urges the weight 86 so that its upper edge or surface is maintained in engagement with the interior surface of the cover plate 29. In this position a recessed screw plug 96 ca.rried centrally of the weight 86, forms the abutment for the hump 68 of ehe valve member 61 and thus the spring 1l urging the valve member 61 against the screw plug 96, maintains said. valve member 61 so that its side openings 16 are in proper normal alignmeni; with the annular groove 65 of the valve member 6l. A lock nut 91 maintains the plug 96 in properly adjusted position within theweight 86.

'Ihe ring-shaped plate 81, which is clamped against the casing 25 by the cover platze 29 may be secured in four differentp0siions upon the shock absorber, more specifically each adjacent positioh being apart. Similarly cover plate 29 is attachable to the casing in the same four positions. When the weight supporting cover plate 29 and. the ring platze 81 130 which the spring 83 is anehored are attachecl tothe shock'absorber as shownin either Figure 2 01 5. these positions showing the weight pivoted in two different positions 180 apart, then the w eight member 86 is responsive only 1:0 vertical accelerative movements of the vehicle frame 26 130 adjustjthe shock absorber. However, when the weight supporting plate 29 and its associate plate 21 are secured to the shock absrber casing 25 in position at 90 frorn the aforementioned position, or in a position as shown in Figure 6, then *the shook ab- Sorber adjusting weight 86 is responsive not only 60 the vertical accelerative movements of the frame of the vehicle 26, laut also centrifugal force resulting from the operation of the vehicle through a curved path in a horizontal plane such as around a band or corner in the roadway. It may readily be seen that, due to the pivotal support 8I of the weight 86 being above the'mass, movement of the shock absorber casing in a curved path, deviation from a straight line will ihrust weight 86 downwardly or move it clockwise as regarolS Figure 2, and thus operatevalve memher 61 increase the shock absorber resistance.

The operation of the shock absorber will now be described detailedly:

Supposing the r0ad Wheels l60 of the vehic le strike an obstruction in the roadway, axle 21 will be thrust upwardly toward the frame 26, compressing springs 22 and resulting in an upward movement of the arm 36 due 120 the link connection 31 between said arm and axle. The shaft 95 is now rotated clockwise and similarly rocker arm 34 and thus the piston 31 is urged out of the cylinder by the spring 39. Under these circumstances fluid. exerting a pressure through passage 45 will movethe valve assernbly, consisting of the valve 41 and. t he other valve 53 supported thereon. away from the seat 46 to establish a substantially free 1"10w of fiuid from the 1eservoir through passage 45 into the compression chamber of the cylinder 21. v

'Ihe limit of the upWarol movement of the axle due to the striking of this obstructionhaving beenreached, springs 22 will rebound to normal load position and thus a reversal 05 movement of the shock absorber obtains. New the piston will be urged into the cylinder by' counterclockwlse movement of the rocker arm 34 and consequently a pressure will be exerted upon the* fluid within said cylinder. If the upward'movement of the vehicle frame 26 Which Supports the vehicle body, is not of sufficient acceleration. welght 86 will not be moved from its engagement With the plate 89 and consequently the 0rifice normally provided between the side openings 16 in the valve member 61 and the sloping surface 66 01' the anradway and substantially in a horizontal plane,

resulting centrifugal force will efiect a downward or clockwise movement of the welght members oeillzlal pa'ssage 62 df the valve member GI, side openings 63 into the groove 65 and Gut of helles 'l.0flzf-ito tlie rieselilolr under normal restriction.

fnal lesicalnce 120 the invirard. movexhent 'of the plstn *ahd consequently the expansion or re- -cll-n'g' m'bY'ement of the vlahicle springs 22 W111 1sted. 'If thei6biinding movement of the veh lole;spiing's 22ls exce'ssive, howevet, and. the

' aroremenmmw orjfic s at the openings can i'sl'l'r ughthe dper'1ing 50 in 1ihe disc or intake'valve 41} 1nto the Chamber 55 and from said chamber th1*ough the annular orifice b'etween the periphqe1al edge of the button-valve 53 and the intake 'valv'e 41 thence through the passage 45 into the fluid reservoir valve 53 from the valve 41 is of course governed by the degree of fluid pressure within tl1e cham- 'Ihe extent of movement; of the ber 21.

If, hwever, the upward. movement of the vehicle frame 20, clue 110 the rebounding movement of the vehicle springs 1s cf predetermined accaleration then weight 80 will move relative to the casing 25 which, as has been mentloned heretofore is attached to the frame 20 and moves therewith, this 'relative'movement of the welght 80 Iurging valve member 61 downwardly toward the valve member 6l so as to decrease the orifice provided between the edge of opening l0and the slo'ping edge 66 ofthe annular groove 65, so that restriction to the flow through this orifice ls substantially increased and consequently the fshock absorber resistance to the upward movement cf the body carrying frame 20,1s propor- 'tlonately increased.

If, the groove 80 in the weight 80 is in substantial alignment with the axis of cylinder 21,

*or 1f said groove 89 is substantially parallel to 'the vehicle frame, then theweight 80 is responsive 110 accelerative movements of the frame 20 plvot member 8l being always more adjacent the center of the vehlcle frame, then as the ve-' hicle is operated around a curved path in thef 80 of the shock absorbers on the side of the car Closest the center of the curved path, of the vehlcle (Figure 2) resultirig in a similar adjust- .ment of the valve member 61 to effect increased restriction to the fluid flow. It is common knowledge that a vehicle when rounding a curve ab combaratively high speed will have a tendency to tip outward, and therefore lt is desirable to lockthe shock absorbers on one side of the ve lncle, preferably the inside or lifting slde, the

slde of the vehicle adjacent the inside. of t-he curve and for this reaQson the pivotal points of the weight members 80 are placed more adjacent the middle of the vehicle so that, due to the centr ifugal force caused by the vehicle roundlng a bend. in one direction or. the other welght mem- .absorber and eng-aging said b61s 80 rnust inove dow'nWar'dly, '1hls =ie's"ult l's obtained b? havlng the pivdtal polnts of the weight me'mbe'rs above tne Center of th'e nass 'a's sh'own in Figres 2, Tand 8. Y

Fr0m the af0'regoing lt may be seen that applica'nt hais pr0Vided a shock absorber Which may be 'a'ssembled elther to be automaticallly adju's't'able in response to ac'celerative mbvements of the vehicle frame in an upWard direction d'r 'to cehtrifugal fort:e r'e'sulting from the Operation of the vehicle a1ound a bend. substantlally ;1n a horizo'nt'al plane, or both as a reSult of said 'atzcelerative m0Vements and centrifugal force. The shock ab'sorber is designed so that lt is nedessary merely to remove four screws and shift 017 turn the cov er plate and its associate plate 81, 90 in either direction to effect such desired control.

While the form of embodinient of the present invention as herein disclosed oonstitutes a preferred form, it is to be undeistood tha't; other frms Inlght be adopted, all comihg within th'e scope of the claims which follow.

What is claiined is as folloW's:

1. An hydraulic shock absorber for a vehicle havlng a sprung and insprung mass comprising in combination, a casing attached to the sprung mass and providing a fluid reservoir and a cyllnder; a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, oonnected 130 the unsprung mass, and 'forming' a compression chamber in the cylinder; a; valve adapted to establish a restricted flow 015 fluid from saicl compression chamber in response to the movement of the piston in one direction; an inertia, weight adapted to adjust said valve to vary its restriction to the fluid flow; and a pivot pin longitudinally of the sprung mass and above the center of the weight mass supporting said. inertia weight in .the shock absorber casing whereby said weight will be responsive to both, accelerative movements of the casing in a vertical dlrection and centrifugal force resulting from the movement of the vehicle in a curved path in a substantially horizontal plane, for adjustlng the valve.

2. An hydraulic shock absorber adapted to coutrol the approaching and separating movements of the frame and axle of a vehicle comprising, in combination, means for circulating fluld; control means for restricting said fluid circulation; and an inertia weight pivotally carried by the shock last-mentioned means, said weight belng adapted in response to both, accelerations in the movement of the vehicle frame away from the axle and to centrifugal force resulting from the operation of the vehicle alox1g a curved path in a horizontal plane, to adjust the control means increasedly to restrict the circulation of the fluid.

3. An hydraulic shock absorber comprising in combination, a casing providing a fiuid reservoir and a cylinder; a piston in said cylinder forming a. compression chamber therein; two ducts providing communication between the reservoir and compression chamber; a normally closed pressure operated valve in one of said ducts; a normally open valve in the other duct; and. an inertia weight; member adapted, in response to centrifugal force resulting from the movement of the shookabsorber in a curved path and in response to accelerative movements of the shock absorber in another direction, t0 actuate said last-mentioned valve increasedly to restrict lts fluid flow.

4. In an hydraulic shock absorber adapted to be attached 130 one of the subst-antially parallel side members cf a vehicle frame, the combinatlo n with a. fluid flow control device; an inertia weight for adjusting saicl device 120 vary its control of the fluicl fiow; means providing a piv0t; pin for supporting the inertia Weight a1: one side of its horizontal center; a spring yieldably urging seid weight against said means;and means for securing the aforementioned means upon the shock absorber in one positionln which the pivot pin is substantially parallel With the vehicle frame members and in another position in whieh the axis of the said pin is substantially a1; right angles to said members.

5. In an hydraulic shock absorber adapted t0 be attached to one of the side members of a vehiele frame, the combination with a fluid fiovv control device; an inertia weight for adjusting sa id clevioe to vary its control of the fiuid fiow; a platze having meanssupporting a pin which pivotally supports the weight an; one slde of its horizontal center, said platze being attachable to the shock absorber in one position in which the axis of the pin is substantially parallel With the side member of the veh icle frame and in another position in which the axls of sald pin. ls substantially at right angles to seid frame memher; and a spring yieldably'urging the weight into control devlce; an lnertia Weight for adjusting saicl device to vary its control of the fiuiol fiow;

- a platte carrying a pin which provides a pivotal support for the weight on the side of 1ts horizontal center more adjacent the"plate said plate being attachable to the shock absorbe r in one position in which the axis of the pin is substantially parallel to the side member of the frame and in another position in which the axis of the pin is substantially a1; right angles to said frame member; and a spring yieldably urging the weight away from the fluid fiow control device and normally against the plate.

EDWIN RQSSMAN. 

